Foundations of Photography: Digital Practice

Course Description

Summary

This course offers an overview of foundational tools and techniques in digital photographic practice and aims to help students find new sources of inspiration, deepen their creative work, and enhance their ability to present it. Students will learn to shoot with digital SLR cameras using manual settings, manage, process, and manipulate digital image files, properly scan negatives, and produce digital portfolios and high quality inkjet prints. 

They will be challenged to create new work within short time periods in response to prompts, and to develop and revise an independent project, in the process becoming more comfortable contributing to critiques with peers and receiving feedback on their work. In addition, students will build their awareness of historical and contemporary artists and the breadth of possibilities for the medium, as they practice making observations, thinking critically, speaking, and writing about photography. Short readings and videos will provide additional context and encourage reflection on the impact of recent technological and social changes.

This course will run in a hybrid format. We will meet as a full group for in-person classes three times: once for the final critique and twice earlier in the term.  Other classes will be structured using both synchronous and asynchronous tools. In addition to full-group Zoom meetings, synchronous class time will include one-on-one meetings with the instructor and meetings with peers (remotely and/or in person).  Asynchronous work will include viewing tutorials, practicing technical skills in (and out of) the digital photo lab, writing responses to readings and viewings, and sharing feedback with peers.

Assignments will be given on a regular basis, and self-directed final projects will allow students to creatively express their technical skills as they explore their own questions and concerns. 

Please note that a Mac-compatible external hard drive and inkjet photo paper are required for this course, and regular access to the digital photo lab on campus is expected. Students do not need to have their own DSLR cameras or printers.